Letter-file.



No. 678,50I. Patented July l6, I901.

B. LAWRENGE, Decd. L. LAWRENCE, Adminis tratrix. LETTER FILE.

kpplication filed June 1, 1899.) (In loglal.)

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U ITED; STATES;

VJPATIENTHWQFFICEQ BENJAMIN LAWRENCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; LOUISA LAWRENCE ADMIN- ISTRATRIX OF SAID BENJAMIN LAWRENCE, DECEASED.

LETTER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,501, dated July 16, 1901.

Application filed June 1, 1899. $erial No. 718,947. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, residingin the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Files, of which the following is a specification.

One of the objects of my invention is to IO provide a letter or bill file adapted to be used either upon a flat board or tablet or between the covers or flaps of a binder of book-like form.

Another object is so to connect the receiving and transfer wires as that they may swing simultaneously to approach each other in the closing action of the file and to recede from each other in the opening operation, so as to obtain the maximum amount of space or distance between the ends of the wires while they are open; and other objects of the invention are to provide a simple, durable, and effective letter or bill file with all curved wires. To these ends my invention consists in the Various features of construction and combinations of devices hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of the contrivance detached and omitting the finger-piece 19 for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same mounted upon a suitable base or sup port. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken at the line a: a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of what may be called the receiving-wires, and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the actuating lever or device.

In the various views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral of reference.

A suitable base-plate l is formed with upturned ears 2 2 and 3 3 on opposite sides or ends. On pivots supported in the ears 2 2 are two receiving or impaling wires 4 4, which are curved or'arc-shaped and at their upper free ends or points are made conical or tapering,as at 5. The pivots for these wires are preferably 50 formed by a small wire pin or bar 6, that extends entirely across the plate from one car 2 to the other ear 2, but the wires may be provided each with a short pivot instead, if desired. Each receiving-wire 4 is formed or provided with an inwardly-extending or radial horizontal arm 7, and the said arms 7 are connected together by a horizontal cross-bar 8. The parts 4, 7, and 8 are preferably made of a single piece of wire bent to the shape shown and which gives a strong and dura- 6o ble frame-like structure. Seated in the ears 3 3 is another long pivot 9 for a similar wire frame, comprising a pair of arc-shaped transfer wires 10 10, a pair of inwardly-extending or radial horizontal arms 11 11, and an attachin g horizontal cross-bar therefor marked 12. The only difference between the receiving-wire frame and the transfer-wire frame is in the shape of the free ends, the latter being provided with tapering sockets or depres- 7o sions to match and receive the tapering points of the receiving-wires, so as to obtain a close and even joint and prevent the tearing or enlargement of the holes in the papers during the operations of transferring the papers.

WhileI have designated one set of the wires 4 4 as the receiving-wires and the other set l0 10 as the transfer-wires, it will be understood, of course, that the terms are interchangeable or applicable to both, since the papers may be impaled or filed upon either set, as may be desired, it being assumed that a suitable punch or perforator will be used to cut outholes in the papers of a size to admit the impaling of the papers upon either set of Wires without tearing the papers or forcing the wires therethrough.

One Wire 4 is exactly opposite one wire 10-that is to say, they are arranged in the same vertical plane transversely of the bed- 0 plate, and when closed their free ends abut or meet, and they both together form a continuous arch-like structure of substantially semicircular formand likewise the other of the wires 4 and the other of the wires 10 are 5 arranged in a verticaliplane, so as to form together when closed a similar arch parallel with that first mentioned.

The arms 7 and 11 are preferably arranged in the vertical planes of the arches, while the loo cross-bars 8 and 12 are arranged parallel with each other and quite close together at right angles to the arches and about in the vertical plane of the meeting ends of the wires constituting said arches.

The two separately-pivoted wire frames are connected together, so as to move in unison in the opening and closing operations of the arches. This connection in the present instance is made by means of two pairs of slotted arms or two forks 13 and 14, which are connected together through a hub or pivotpiece 15, the ends 16 of which latter are seated in hooks or bearings 17, projecting upwardly from the bed-plate. The fork 13 embraces one of the arms 7, connected with the receiving-wires, so called, and the other fork 14 embraces one arm 11, connected with the transfer-wires. The axis of the pivotal portion 15 being parallel with the arms land 11, when the forks are moved up and down about their axis they act upon said arms to raise and lower them, and owing to their rigid connections with the two pairs of wires the said wires are simultaneously opened and closedopened when the forks swing upwardly and closed when they swing downwardly.

For the purpose of conveniently vibrating the forks the hub orpivotal portion 15 is provided with two finger-pieces 18 and 19, the former extending outwardly and the latter inwardly. When pressure is applied to the finger-piece 18, the forks are caused to ascend and act upon the arms 7 and 11 and cause the two frames to swing about their pivots 6 and 9 and the free ends of the wires simultaneously to move in opposite directions or away from each other, so as to leave acomparatively wide space or opening for the convenient insertion and removal of papers. \Vhen the opposite finger-piece 15-) is pressed down, the forks are vibrated downwardly toward the base-plate and the frames are swung about their pivots in the opposite direction until their points or free ends meet again, all as shown by the full and dotted lines at Fig. 2.

WVhile I prefer the finger-pieces, they are, however, not absolutely essential. The wires may be separated or swung to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 2 by simply grasping any one of the four semi-arches t or 10 and swinging it in the proper direction, the motion from one being communicated to the others through the double-fork connection described, and when it may be desired to close the wires an inward pressure upon any one of the same will cause both frames simultaneously to swing upon their pivots until the ends of the wires meet or are brought together again.

The finger-pieces are preferred, because by their use there is less liability of straining or bending the wires and getting them out of alinement.

For the purpose of holding the wires firmly together in their closed position and also for holding them open when desired a fiat spring 20 is employed, the inner end being attached to the base by a screw 21 and the outer end bearing upon either of two fiat faces 22 23 on the hub or pivotal piece 15. When the spring bears on the fiat face 22, it tends to hold the points of the wires together,and when itbears upon the flat face 23 it tends to hold them in their open dotted-line position, as shown at Fig. 2. By having both the receiving and the transfer Wires curved or arc-shaped the letters or papers may be more easily slid from one to the other set than in the usually-constructed files, and in addition the papers on the curved receiving-wires are better adapted to remain in position than in the common file with straight upright receiving-wires, in which latter it is necessary to hold the papers down with pressure devices, especially if the papers be creased,since they have a tendency to rise and work off the wires.

It will be observed that when the wires are closed and the arch is formed the pivots of the wires are arranged substantially at the ends of the arch, while the abutting point of the wires is above and at about midway of the arch, and also that the arms 7 7 project inwardly from the pivots of the wires and are connected by the actuating device, which is arranged to act on said arms intermediate the pivots and the wires.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a letter-file, the combination of receiving and transfer wires arranged in the same vertical plane and which when closed abut end to end and form together a continuous arch of substantially semicircular form and the pivots of the wires being arranged at the opposite ends of the arch, and means intermediate and connecting the separatelypivoted wires for opening and closing the wires and opening or closing them simulta" neously.

2. In a letter-file, the combination of receiving and transfer wires mounted on separate parallel pivots and connected to swing together toward and away from each other in the closing and opening movements of the file, the said receiving and transfer wires being arranged in the same vertical plane and when closed abutting end to end and forming together a continuous arch of substantially semicircular form, and the said pivots being arranged at the opposite ends of the arch.

3. In aletter-file, the combination of separately-pivoted receiving and transfer wires having arms extending inwardly from their pivots, and a pivoted actuating device con nected to both of said arms and adapted to Vibrate the wires simultaneously in the opening and closing actions of the file.

4:. In a letter-file, the combination of separately-pivoted receiving and transfer wires arranged in the same vertical plane and which when closed abut end to end and form together a continuous arch of substantially semicircular form, and a pivotally-mounted spring-pressed actuating device connected thereto between the pivots of the wires for opening and closing said wires together.

5. In a letter-file, the combination of pivotally-mounted receiving and transfer wires, and a pivotally-mounted spring-pressed actuating device adapted to vibrate said wires simultaneously, in the opening and closing movements of the file, and having two bearing-faces to be acted upon by its spring so as to hold the wires in either the open or the closed position.

6. In a letter-file, the combination of separately-pivoted receiving and transfer Wires, an actuating device connected thereto so as to swing the same simultaneously, and the two downwardly-acting finger-pieces 18 and 19 attached to said actuating device to move the same in the proper directions to open and to close said wires.

7. In a letter-file,the combination of curved receiving and transfer wires arranged in the same plane and to meet end to end and having radial horizontal arms'extending toward each other, a pivot for each wire arranged at about the junction of the wire and its arm, and a pivotally-mounted actuator connected to both said arms.

8. In a letter-file, the combination of separately-pivoted curved receiving and transfer wires arranged in the same plane and to meet end to end and having radial horizontal arms extending toward each other from the pivots of the wires, and a pivotally-mounted actuator having two forks connected to said radial arms.

9. In a letter-file, the combination of a pair by a cross-bar 8, a pair of radial arms 11, 11, extending horizontally inwardly from the pivots of the transfer-wires and connected together by a cross-bar 12, and an actuating device connected to act on one of the arms 7 of one receiving-wire and one of the arms 11 of one transfer-wire.

10. In a letter-file, the combination of a receiving-wire frame comprising two parallel curved wires, two radial inwardly-extended arms, and a cross-bar; the said frame being pivoted to a suitable base at about the junction of the lower end of the curved wires and the outer ends of the radial arms, and a transfer-wire frame comprising a pair of wires, a pair of radial inwardly-extending arms, and a cross-bar, and the said frame being pivoted to the said base at about the junction of the lower ends'of the transfer-wires and the outer ends of the radial arms.

11; In a letter-file, the combination of a receiving-Wire frame comprising two parallel curved wires, two radial inwardly-extending arms, and a cross-bar; the said frame being pivoted to a suitable base at about the junction of the lower end of the curved wires and the outer ends of the radial arms, a transferwire frame comprising a pair of wires, a pair of radial inwardly-extended arms and a crossbar; and the said frame being pivoted to the said base at about the junction of the lower ends of the transfer-wires and the outer ends of the radial arms, and means for connecting said frames together so that they may be vibrated simultaneously in the opening and closing movements of the file.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of May,

BENJAMIN LAWRENCE. Witnesses:

K. V. DONOVAN, E. M. WELLs. 

